The cab has been added!
http://trainspot.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=5842861

http://trainspot.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=5842862

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Hi All
It has taken a while, but the restoration of the locomotive is gaining ground. Congratulations on the progress. Pat.

Remember when NH&I had written #9 off as used up?
SMS is a pretty exciting little railroad with amazing capability.

For the benefit of those of us who aren't in the know:
What is SMS?
What is SLRS?

I do recognize NH&I.

Thanks!

SMS Rail LinesTheir reporting mark: AAR Railroad Reporting Marks

NH&I is New Hope and Ivyland.

I'd like to see SMS given New Hope's 1533 ten-wheeler to restore and run.

I don't think NH&I wants to sell 1533. No doubt about it, the SMS crew would do a fantastic job restoring that locomotive.

I don't really understand why they won't part with 1533, since they haven't done anything with it for nearly fifty years now, and barely even run steam anymore. The last few years, # 40 has only run on Christmas holiday trains, and the rest of the year they are all diesel.

John

Firstly let me say I am not part of the NH&I management team nor am I authorized to speak for them. I am a very part time engineer, there primarily running Santa trains in December.

I do want to correct John's statement above. Steam ( 1925 Baldwin 2-8-0 #40 ) does run on a number of other occasions during the year such as Fall Foliage, Easter Bunny, July 4th. etc. ) when the holiday traffic demand justifies the increased cost of operating the steamer.

Also, they are using her when demand is high to optimize her use and maximize her earning power during the 1472 day window.

This will be the 4th. year that the Santa trains will be offered in either steam or diesel versions ( www.newhoperailroad.com) with the steam version selling at a 25% premium price. In past years the steam version has sold very competitively with the cheaper diesel version.

Thanks, Ross Rowland...part time # 40 hogger

Thank you Ross, I am happy to be wrong about this. When I looked at their schedule earlier this year, it looked as though steam was only being used at Christmas, but I am glad that is not the case.

John

A lot of fans don't seem to understand the math of the 1472 day/15 year clock.

If the owner wants to get the full 15-years out of a locomotive, then that locomotive can only be hot 98 days a year. Just running Saturday & Sunday of every weekend in a year requires 104 days, and that is assuming the railroad waits until after midnight Friday night to light the engine's fire.

Chris makes an important point. The facts are that steam costs more than diesel and most riders ( 90-95% ? ) don't really care what is pulling the train.

To maximize the maximum revenue when running steam it helps a lot to to that in partnership with themed trains ( i.e. North Pole Express, July 4th., Fall Foliage etc.) thus at New Hope steam is always paired with a theme.

This way the railroad gets the most revenue possible out of its 1472 day ticket.

Ross Rowland

I think this has been discussed somewhere before - but if an electric pre-heater is used, does that count towards the 1472 days?

A "service day" is any day in which there is both fire and pressure in the boiler.

For example, preheating the boiler water to 200 degrees, using an external source of heat (gas-fired boiler, heat exchanger, electric immersion elements in an external vessel), does not count as a service day.

Howard P.